Scout wheat for growth stage, possible disease

Published: April 24, 2012 4:00AM

Wheat growers are advised to get out in their fields to determine the crop growth stage and scout for possible disease. Do not rely upon the height of the wheat as a determination of the growth stage. Our recent cool weather (remember those sub-30 degree nights the week of April 9?) plus our dry conditions the past few weeks have combined to limit the height of the wheat crop. However, even though the wheat plant is short, it is still advancing through growth stages.

In Ohio most growers are accustomed to using the Feekes growth stages. I looked at a couple of wheat fields on April 18 and plants were at Feekes stage 7, second node visible to Feekes stage 8, flag leaf just starting to emerge. For wheat growers, Feekes stage 8 is a significant growth stage.

Feekes stage 8 is the point of wheat development that growers should be out in their fields scouting to determine if there are disease symptoms present, and if so, which diseases are present. Typically the greatest benefit and economic return to foliar applied fungicides is obtained when applications are made between Feekes growth stage 8 and Feekes growth stage 10, which is the boot stage of wheat development.

The reason for this is because most of the foliar diseases that cause economic loss in wheat develop on the plant and reach the flag leaf after Feekes growth stage 8.

The decision to apply a fungicide should be based on the following questions:

1) Is a fungal disease present in the field?

2) Is the wheat variety in the field susceptible to the disease, or is the disease spreading rapidly through the field?

3) Does the crop have the yield potential to warrant the cost of applying the fungicide?

If the answer to these questions is yes, then make plans to apply an effective fungicide to the wheat crop as soon as possible, and before the crop advances past Feekes growth stage 10. Most fungicides should be applied with nozzles that will allow an application of 20 gallons of water/acre to ensure good coverage. Using less water will lower the effectiveness of the fungicide.

For more information about wheat growth stages, wheat diseases and specific fungicide recommendations, contact the Wayne County Extension office at 330-264-8722.

Building soil health

I attended a cover crops field day recently and came away from it with a renewed appreciation for what it takes to build and maintain a healthy soil.

Although the event was termed a cover crop field day, the speakers and the farmer host talked about soil health. Cover crops are an important tool in building soil health, but the concept of soil health is broader than just cover crops. By the way, this discussion is valid for anyone tilling the soil; from the row crop farmer to the market vegetable grower to the home gardener.

Soil health involves looking at soil as a living ecological community. Some measures of soil health include soil structure, pore density and organic matter. The microbes in the soil help to release and recycle soil nutrients; they form symbiotic, beneficial relationships with plant roots that boost plant health and the ability of plants to absorb nutrients. They also serve as links in the soil food chain that lead to increased populations of other macro invertebrates in the soil.

In a healthy soil, there is more life, more tonnage, below the soil surface than what can be maintained on top of the soil. I have seen figures that indicate there are 7-10 tons of microbes in an acre of soil. To put that in terms that might be easier to comprehend, that would be equivalent to 10-15 cows/acre or 90 to 130 sheep/acre!

Since tillage burns up organic matter, simply reducing tillage will improve the organic matter content of the soil. Keeping the soil covered with plants after harvest will allow nutrients to be stored in plant roots and plant residues, will help to maintain the soil microbe population and will help to increase soil organic matter.

For more information about soil health and/or the use of cover crops, contact the Wayne County Extension office at 330-264-8722.

Rory Lewandowski is an OSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722.